1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Wedding Band. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” Wedding Band takes place South Carolina, a city by the sea. It is currently the summer of 1918. The first scene of the first act starts on a Saturday morning. The play is set in the backyard of three small cottages. Julia Augustine is a new tenant of one of these small cottages. The landlord is Fanny Johnson, she is described as a self-appointed 50-year-old representative of her race. The play starts off with another tenant named Mattie yelling at her daughter, Teeta, to find the only quarter she has to her name. The commotion wakes up Julia, however, Julia claims she is not leaving. She thinks the disturbance is on purpose as a ploy to try to run her out. A dramatic situation that takes place is when Julia confesses she is in love with a white man. In this time period, black males and females had no rights. They could not marry a black male and especially not a white male. A white bell man tried to take advantage of Julia and insisted she gets in bed with him to "accommodate him" and "fix him up"(pg.207). White people viewed black people as less than; in their minds, they are not even citizens and don't belong in the U.S.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students. Herman showing up at the house causes the stasis to be broken and helps the dramatic action develop. Herman's presence causes many events to occur that are not in favor of Julia. Herman gives Julia a wedding band that symbolizes their love for each other. It is against the law for them to get married so she puts the ring on a necklace and tucks it into her dress in order to keep it private. Not only did Herman show up to a black women's house but he becomes sick with influenza and can't move from Julia's house. This event causes Herman's sister, Annabelle, and his mother, Frieda, to arrive at Julia's doorstep. Herman's family opposes his relationship with Julia and runs her out of her own house. They call her offensive names and accuse her of stealing and wasting Herman's time and money. Julia wants to go to New York to escape the southern life and laws of the land. She wants to get married to Herman who she loves so much. However, the laws and opposing viewpoints of the characters both black and white hinder their transition.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? A unique factor is the turn of events happening 10 years after Herman and Julia being together, during the war, in the middle of the influenza outbreak. I believe this takes place 10 years after Herman and Julia's relationship began to emphasize the unity that can happen between different races. Although it has been a struggle to stay together and put up with obstacles, they overcame and continued to love one another unconditionally. Herman getting influenza and dying on Julia's bed reassures where they belong, with each other. Finally, having the turn of events during the war reveals the everyday battle black women went through. Their husbands, sons, and brothers go off to war to serve a country that does not even serve them. The families of these young soldiers may not see them again and without their life, they won't have anything to show for it because the country they serve does not respect them enough to even recognize the sacrifices they made.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Will Mattie and Teeta ever make it to New York? Does Herman die in Julia's bed? What will Julia do after her lover for 10 years dies? Will Nelson come back from War?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band, the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play. In the beginning of the play, Julia wants to be able to marry Herman without any repercussions. However, she is conflicted because society does not allow any such thing. It is frowned upon for white people to be in relations with black people. There are laws in place that do not allow black people to marry, this is why Julia hides her wedding band. Another obstacle she faces is with other individuals. Herman's family strongly dislikes the idea of one of their own spending time and money on a black female. This is created by societies perception of right vs. wrong. Herman's family acts this way towards Julia because they were taught to dislike any color other than white. It was not Julia's qualities that they didn't care for but the color of her skin that was deemed wrong and unacceptable.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band. One theatrical moment was the argument not only between Anabelle and Julia but also between Frieda and Julia. Julia and Frieda grew tension by exchanging words and spilling their true feelings about one another. The argument between Anabelle and Julia consisted of Anabelle badgering Julia and saying offensive things under her breath. Anabelle completely disapproves and does not want Julia anywhere near Herman. This causes Anabelle to be hostile towards Julia when Julia really just wants to help the love of her life. The realization that Mattie was not truly married to October is a dramatic event because it causes chain reactions to follow. Mattie cannot access October's money which makes Mattie unable to reunite with and provide for their daughter. This may be why Julia gives her wedding band to her.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) Image 1: The Wedding Band
The wedding band symbolizes the unity and love Herman and Julia have for each other during a time of opposition for different races coming together. Julia, having to wear the band on her neck, shows the determination they have for their future. It is a promise to stay true to one another and symbolizes a continuation of their love no matter the obstacle. Image 2: The Backyard
The backyard is where the play mainly takes place. I believe the author chose a backyard to emphasize the importance of Herman and Julia's relationship staying a secret. Every dramatic situation has to stay between the characters otherwise serious consequences could take place. The backyard allows the reader to step away from the big picture and focus on the issues between the characters that many may have been going through at that time. Image 3: The Quarter
The quarter symbolizes the difficult times of the war. Mattie was extremely upset her daughter lost her LAST quarter. A quarter was all Mattie had to take care of her family while her husband was away and she was not going to stop until she got her quarter back. The quarter symbolized the conditions black women had to adhere to in order to survive and it describes the poverty that had taken over.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band. Segregation Unity
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think? Family can either keep you together or tear you apart. A families influence is stronger than you know. If your lovers family opposes you then your life with your lover is downplayed and disrespected. Julia letting Herman's family say those things to her weakened her. Julia felt less than as if she was a burden for being there when in reality it was her house that Herman involuntarily came to. Also, Mattie's character exemplified how important family was during the war. Many families were separated because of the war, however, families gave hope and determination to one another in order to stay strong and fight for another day.
Wedding Band takes place South Carolina, a city by the sea. It is currently the summer of 1918. The first scene of the first act starts on a Saturday morning. The play is set in the backyard of three small cottages. Julia Augustine is a new tenant of one of these small cottages. The landlord is Fanny Johnson, she is described as a self-appointed 50-year-old representative of her race. The play starts off with another tenant named Mattie yelling at her daughter, Teeta, to find the only quarter she has to her name. The commotion wakes up Julia, however, Julia claims she is not leaving. She thinks the disturbance is on purpose as a ploy to try to run her out. A dramatic situation that takes place is when Julia confesses she is in love with a white man. In this time period, black males and females had no rights. They could not marry a black male and especially not a white male. A white bell man tried to take advantage of Julia and insisted she gets in bed with him to "accommodate him" and "fix him up"(pg.207). White people viewed black people as less than; in their minds, they are not even citizens and don't belong in the U.S.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? NOTE: Arguments might be made for several different points where stasis is broken. Be prepared to defend your point of view, if different from other students.
Herman showing up at the house causes the stasis to be broken and helps the dramatic action develop. Herman's presence causes many events to occur that are not in favor of Julia. Herman gives Julia a wedding band that symbolizes their love for each other. It is against the law for them to get married so she puts the ring on a necklace and tucks it into her dress in order to keep it private. Not only did Herman show up to a black women's house but he becomes sick with influenza and can't move from Julia's house. This event causes Herman's sister, Annabelle, and his mother, Frieda, to arrive at Julia's doorstep. Herman's family opposes his relationship with Julia and runs her out of her own house. They call her offensive names and accuse her of stealing and wasting Herman's time and money. Julia wants to go to New York to escape the southern life and laws of the land. She wants to get married to Herman who she loves so much. However, the laws and opposing viewpoints of the characters both black and white hinder their transition.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
A unique factor is the turn of events happening 10 years after Herman and Julia being together, during the war, in the middle of the influenza outbreak. I believe this takes place 10 years after Herman and Julia's relationship began to emphasize the unity that can happen between different races. Although it has been a struggle to stay together and put up with obstacles, they overcame and continued to love one another unconditionally. Herman getting influenza and dying on Julia's bed reassures where they belong, with each other. Finally, having the turn of events during the war reveals the everyday battle black women went through. Their husbands, sons, and brothers go off to war to serve a country that does not even serve them. The families of these young soldiers may not see them again and without their life, they won't have anything to show for it because the country they serve does not respect them enough to even recognize the sacrifices they made.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Mattie and Teeta ever make it to New York?
Does Herman die in Julia's bed?
What will Julia do after her lover for 10 years dies?
Will Nelson come back from War?
5. Use Julia to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken by that character. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Wedding Band, the wants of Julia are in flux. They change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual or individuals, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles in the play.
In the beginning of the play, Julia wants to be able to marry Herman without any repercussions. However, she is conflicted because society does not allow any such thing. It is frowned upon for white people to be in relations with black people. There are laws in place that do not allow black people to marry, this is why Julia hides her wedding band. Another obstacle she faces is with other individuals. Herman's family strongly dislikes the idea of one of their own spending time and money on a black female. This is created by societies perception of right vs. wrong. Herman's family acts this way towards Julia because they were taught to dislike any color other than white. It was not Julia's qualities that they didn't care for but the color of her skin that was deemed wrong and unacceptable.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Wedding Band.
One theatrical moment was the argument not only between Anabelle and Julia but also between Frieda and Julia. Julia and Frieda grew tension by exchanging words and spilling their true feelings about one another. The argument between Anabelle and Julia consisted of Anabelle badgering Julia and saying offensive things under her breath. Anabelle completely disapproves and does not want Julia anywhere near Herman. This causes Anabelle to be hostile towards Julia when Julia really just wants to help the love of her life. The realization that Mattie was not truly married to October is a dramatic event because it causes chain reactions to follow. Mattie cannot access October's money which makes Mattie unable to reunite with and provide for their daughter. This may be why Julia gives her wedding band to her.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Wedding Band. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
Image 1: The Wedding Band
The wedding band symbolizes the unity and love Herman and Julia have for each other during a time of opposition for different races coming together. Julia, having to wear the band on her neck, shows the determination they have for their future. It is a promise to stay true to one another and symbolizes a continuation of their love no matter the obstacle.
Image 2: The Backyard
The backyard is where the play mainly takes place. I believe the author chose a backyard to emphasize the importance of Herman and Julia's relationship staying a secret. Every dramatic situation has to stay between the characters otherwise serious consequences could take place. The backyard allows the reader to step away from the big picture and focus on the issues between the characters that many may have been going through at that time.
Image 3: The Quarter
The quarter symbolizes the difficult times of the war. Mattie was extremely upset her daughter lost her LAST quarter. A quarter was all Mattie had to take care of her family while her husband was away and she was not going to stop until she got her quarter back. The quarter symbolized the conditions black women had to adhere to in order to survive and it describes the poverty that had taken over.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Wedding Band.
Segregation
Unity
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Wedding Band? Perhaps you might argue for several different kinds of family in this particular play. What do you think?
Family can either keep you together or tear you apart. A families influence is stronger than you know. If your lovers family opposes you then your life with your lover is downplayed and disrespected. Julia letting Herman's family say those things to her weakened her. Julia felt less than as if she was a burden for being there when in reality it was her house that Herman involuntarily came to. Also, Mattie's character exemplified how important family was during the war. Many families were separated because of the war, however, families gave hope and determination to one another in order to stay strong and fight for another day.